- Bob Haney
Infobox Comics creator
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birthname = Robert Haney
birthdate = 1926
location = Philadelphia,Pennsylvania
deathdate = death date|2004|11|25|mf=y
deathplace =La Mesa, California
nationality = American
area = Writer
alias =
notable works = Teen Titans, Super-Sons
awards = Alley Award, Inkpot AwardRobert "Bob" Haney (
1926 -November 25 ,2004 ) was an Americancomic book writer, best known for his work forDC Comics . He co-created the Silver Age Teen Titans as well as characters such asMetamorpho ,Eclipso , Cain, and theSuper-Sons .Biography
Early life and career
Haney grew up in Philadelphia, wear he read popular newspaper
comic strips like "Prince Valiant " and "Flash Gordon ", and was a regular listener ofradio drama s. Earning his master's degree fromColumbia University , he embarked on a writing career, publishing a number of novels under a variety of assumed names.In 1948, Haney broke into the comics industry. From 1948 to 1955 Haney wrote crime and war comics for a number of publishers, including Fawcett, Standard, Hillman, Harvey, and St. John.
DC Comics
In large part due to the
Frederic Wertham scare and the U.S Senate Subcommittee hearings on juvenile delinquency, most of Haney's publishers went out of business during the period, but around 1956 he connected with DC Comics. Thus began a long association with DC, which lasted almost thirty years, with Haney scripting just about every sort of comic DC published.Evanier, Mark. "Bob Haney, R.I.P." [http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2004_12_05.html News From Me] , December 5, 2004. Retrieved on February 2, 2008.]Besides the "Teen Titans" and "Doom Patrol", other DC titles Haney worked on include "Sgt. Rock", "
World's Finest Comics " (where he created the Super-Sons), "The Brave and the Bold ", "Blackhawk", "The Unknown Soldier" and "Deadman ". With artistsJoe Orlando andJack Sparling , Haney co-created Cain and hisgargoyle Gregory for "House of Mystery ", characters that are now much better known for their appearances inNeil Gaiman 's "The Sandman".Haney frequently claimed to have co-created the
Doom Patrol withArnold Drake , but Drake insisted that he merely called in Haney for help in meeting a deadline. [Guay, George, "The Life and Death of the Doom Patrol," "Amazing Heroes " #6, November 1981,Zam, Inc. , Stamford, CT, p. 39.]Haney's stories in the 1960s and 70s, especially with the Teen Titans and the Super-Sons, often dealt with youth culture and current issues, but by the late 1970s and early 80s, Haney struggled to produce material that DC's editors considered timely or contemporary. This led to occasional clashes with the DC editorial staff and ultimately to Haney's departure from the company (and comics in general).
Animation
In the 1960s Haney contributed scripts to the "
Superman " and "Aquaman " cartoon shows; and in the 1980s, after leaving DC, wrote for severalRankin-Bass animated shows, including "Thundercats ", "Silverhawks " and "Karate Kat ".Later life
When comics and animation work petered out in the late 1980s, Haney turned to other forms of writing, including a book on carpentry. His last few years were spent in San Felipe in Baja,
Mexico .Awards
Haney's industry recognitions included the 1968
Alley Award for Best Full-Length Story ("Track of the Hook" inBrave and the Bold #79, drawn byNeal Adams ); and a 1997Inkpot Award fromComic-Con International .Notes
References
*
External links
* [http://www.blueroadrunner.com/haney.htm Profile of Haney]
* [http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2004_12_05.html Mark Evanier obit]
* [http://www.blueroadrunner.com/Hgallery/index.htm Photo gallery of Haney]
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